Portland State students and administrators are fine-tuning construction details of a new Student Recreation Center after the Oregon Legislature approved the $42 million capital construction project earlier this summer. The project approval comes just months after an extensive survey conducted by Brailsford and Dunlavey, an independent firm based in Washington, DC, found that 70% of student respondents support a new recreation facility at PSU. Demand for a new facility is partially in response to overcrowding and inaccessibility of the current Peter Stott Recreation Center, which began hitting maximum capacity as early as 1987.

A new student recreation center is the largest component of the long-planned Urban Plaza site redevelopment and will replace the PCAT building. Draft designs of the building, which were largely based on requirements set forth by a student oversight committee, include state-of-the-art exercise facilities, aquatics services, a climbing wall, a running track, several courts, exercise studios, student art displays, and a student-run food business. Additionally, the center will provide space for student clubs, dance, and a home for recreational services such as intramural sports, outdoor programs, and wellness classes. The construction plans coincide with a joint effort by PSU, Tri-Met, and the City of Portland to expand the city's light rail system, known as 'MAX', to the PSU campus. The recreation center would be at least one of the light rail's stops in the area.

The current draft construction plans will undergo fine-tuning in upcoming months in preparation for final approval by the State Board of Higher Education. In addition to finalizing specifics in the construction plan, students and administrators are exploring an option that would add academic space to the facility.

Emphasis on sustainability

The new student recreation center received national attention in August when Athletic Business magazine highlighted the strong student support for the facility and for sustainable design. According to the extensive Brailsford and Dunlavey survey, 78% of respondents supported a $2/quarter raise in student fees to have the building meet Gold LEED Certification, a sustainable design rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. The fee increase would contribute to several sustainable components of the building design, such as an 'eco-roof'.

Student ownership

Construction and operation of the facility would be primarily paid for by PSU students. In a survey conducted by Brailsford and Dunlavey in spring 2005, approximately 65% of student respondents supported an increase of the Student Incidental Fee of $10-11/month in order to pay for facility operations, in addition to a $9/month fee to pay for construction. "With the participation of 2,623 students, this was one of the largest student surveys in the history of PSU," said senior student Tony Rasmussen, Communications Coordinator for Campus Recreation. The remaining costs for the Urban Plaza site redevelopment would be supplemented by various revenue sources such as parking and space rental, according to Cathy Dyck, PSU's Associate Vice President for Finance and Planning.

Students, working with PSU officials through an oversight committee and focus groups, have caused several specific improvements to the building's design. For example, multiple improvements have been made to the accessibility of the building for students with disabilities. Students have also advocated for the creation a rooftop garden and increased community space in the main lobby. "Students have driven almost every decision of our initial designs and their insights continue to make tangible differences", said Alex Accetta, PSU's Coordinator of Campus Recreation. "We will continue to make this project reflect the needs of students".

Student demand

In addition to 70% of student respondents supporting a new recreation center in the survey conducted by Brailsford and Dunlavey, students have shown their support for the project in other surveys, referendums, and focus groups over the past three years. In a survey conducted in February 2003, over 87% of student respondents supported an expanded recreation facility. A referendum during the initial 2004 student elections passed with 57% of ballots cast. Those results were invalided by an unrelated campaign issue (see Daily Vanguard, "Maybe the second time around", 2 April 2004), however students passed the referendum again in the final election with 50.3% of ballots cast.

"The combination of results from surveys, referendums, and focus groups indicate a strong desire from diverse PSU students for a new student owned-and-operated recreational facility", said Rasmussen.

For more information about the New Student Rec Center project, visit www.campusrec.pdx.edu or contact campusrec@pdx.edu